Why is wind shear a problem for modern launches? Were there historical launch failures due to wind shear? Are there different rocket designs which allow launching through wind shear and what are the tradeoffs?
Were there historical launch failures due to wind shear?
Quote from: IanO on 04/11/2019 03:38 pmWere there historical launch failures due to wind shear?Not exactly sure how to ascribe the failure of Columbia between the booster O-Rings, Joint design, and the wind shear, but Columbia hit unprecedented wind shear before the break up of the vehicle
I've been wondering wether some of the proposed lunar landers (for example Blue Moon) could do part of TLI and possibly LOI with their landing engine and the use of some kind of "drop tanks"?Is there any launch system that used or uses some kind of "drop tank" (besides Shuttle external tank)?My reasoning is that once the lander would be in orbit, you don't have to worry about gravity losses any more, so a small engine would be enough for TLI. And such a drop tank should have much lower dry weight than a second stage, could be a simple stainless steel balloon tank. And since it's dropped before landing, it doesn't need to withstand the landing when empty.Of course this adds complexity, i understand that. It might make some kind of Apollo style transposition and docking maneuver necessary. What else am I overlooking?